Wood-door construction



March 13, 1928. 1,662,151

E. c. LOETSCHER WOOD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 18. 1926 ,mmwr v I 2 7 'l C ZOG tSC 4 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

PATENT] OFFICE,

UNITED. STATES we e ones me r wat rs 19?- WOOD-DOOR CONSERUCTION.

Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,021. 7

ture, byutilizing veneered material in such a manner that increased Weight and a more massive construction is obtained throughout the door.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the door, Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a portion of the door with portions broken away to show the construction, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in cross section as taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

The door consists in general of an outer frame made up of vertical members or stiles l- -1, extending the full height of the door and cross members or rails 22 at top and bottom, a central rectangular panel 3, and an intermediate beveled panel frame t extending around'thje central panel and within the outer frame of stiles and rails. j The stiles 1 and rails 2 of the door are preferably of, veneered lumber although they may be oisolid wood if desired, and the cost is not prohibitive. In the event veneered lumber is used, the stiles for example are comprised ofa soft wood or pine core 1 covered with thin slabs or strips 1 othard wood. However, where veneered lumber is used, I prefer to make the core of a multitude of small blocks ofwaste lumber, and in aecordancewith the methoddescribed in my prior Patent No. 1,59%,889, dated August 3 1926;. However, the exact nature of the material used for the stiles or rails is not an essential part oi the invention. e9 ln wa ly from the sti es l and ra ls,

into which the thinner edges" of the panel small blocks of wastef lumber glued together.

which are joined at their ends in any suitable manner, is the panel frame 4-, consisting of vertical and transverse pieces or sections 4? and it.respectively, of a solid wood, and of any desired width, althoughpreferablyless than the width of the stiles 1. These pieces or sections 4 arecut and milled with the grain of the wood extending lengthwise and are mitered together at their ends totorm a completeframe surrounding the central pan-cl with the grain extending longitudinally throughout, namely, transversely of the door at top and bottomandvertically at the sides. 4 j In cross sectional contour these panel frame members are tapered; oivbeveled from e g t d" he ther, t e bas thicker edge in'this case being innermost.

In/the average door otsay, two inches in thickness, the framemembers would be say 11/ lnches thick at the inner edge and taper to 34 inch at the outer edge.

The panel frame members 4; and 4 are grooves or rabbets 5, along their inner edges fram n einbersare fittedand glued, said edges of thestiles and rails being milledto provide a moulding as at 6-6.

The single central panel 3,,surrounded by the panelfran1e4,is rectangular section of wood veneered material of; substantially the same thickness as the stiles and. rails. In general, thepanel is made upof a soft wood or pine core 3 having thin slabs 3*,0i hard woodapplied tothe faces of the core, these slabs being about of" aninch or less in thickness. The core is preferably of a composite construction, the same method disclosed in my said priorpatent-being used, forthe reason that it is possible thereby to manufacture a panel of any desired thickness at a. relatively low cost, inasmuchIas the core is made up of a multiplicity oi As shown in Figure 2, the core is virtually a composite plank, with the individual blocks so arrange-d that thefgrain'ofthe core runs crosswise'or transversely of the panel." The slabs 3* or outer layers of veneer on the till other hand are applied with the grain extending lengthwise or longitudinally of the panel, so that the result is a panel structure which will not warp or swell under changing ten'iperature or atmospheric conditions.

The central panel 3 is preferably provided about its edges with a combination of groove and tongue, the groove 7 being equal in width to the thickness of the core and formed by extending the edges of the layers of ye neer 3 beyond the edges of the core 3, whereas the tongue 8 is formed at the base of the groove and along the edges of the core. The panel frame members and 4* are grooved along their inner edges to lit the tongues S, that the central panel and panel frame are joined together by fitting the edges tightly together, the joint between the central panel and the panel frame being concealed the overlapping edges of the veneering The parts of the door thus described would be assembled in the usual manner, glue being used at the joints, as is customary in the fabrication of mill work.

One of the ad ant'ages of the door construction herein disclosed, is the fact that the central panel can be made of greater thickness than has heretofore been practical in the usual panel door construction, particularly where a single large panel is used. In fact, the central panel may be of the same thickness as the stiles, without encountering the difficulties usually experienced in doors in which the single central panel is made either of a thin slab of wood or several plies with grain running in the same direction, namely, the tendency to swell due to the absorption of moisture and the resulting warping and pressure at the joints which cause them to open. These defects in the ordinary door do not. develop in the present construction, due to the composite construction of the panel core and the opposite graining of the veneering. which obviates both warping and swelling. Moreover. the mitered panel l'rame with its beveled members surrounding the central panel and r curely tilted at its edges to both the pan l and stiles or rails. allords an exceedingly solid and permanent coi'istrnction. Again. he thick veneered panel permits of inlaying, either for ornamentation or for utilitarian purposes, as for instance the inlaying of names or numbers.

Aside from the structural advantages of the door herein disclosed. it permits also of certain treatment of the materials so as to improve the appearance by taking advantage of the natural grain of the wood. Thus the members forming the panel frame it are arranged so that the grain runs lengthwise about the central panel, thus giving a striking effect in contrast to the vertical graining of the central panel.

Having described the door construction and the advantages thereof. I claim:

1. A wood door comprising an outer frame, an inner panel frame within said outer frame consisting of pane frame members mitered together at their ends. a cent ral panel surrounded by said panel frame and consisting of a core of substantially the same thickness as the inner edge portions ot said panel frame members and outer layers of veneer projecting beyond the edges of said core, and lying flush along the inner marginal portions of said panel frame.

2. A wood door comprising an outer frame. a panel frame within said outer frame consisting of beveled frame members mitered together at their ends, and a central panel consisting of a core of substantially the same thickness as the inner edge portions of said panel frame and having tongue and groove connection therewith and layers of veneer applied to the faces of said core and extending at their edges to overlie the joints between said core and said panel frame members.

3. A wood door comprising an outer frame, a panel frame consisting of frame members mitered together at their ends and beveled to relatively thin outer and thick inner edges, and a central panel within said panel frame and consisting of a relatively thick core joined in edgewise abutting contact with the inner edges of said frame members and outer layers of thin veneer, having their edges projecting beyond the joints between said core and said panel frame members.

4. A wood door comprising an outer frame. a. panel frame within said outer fame and consisting of frame members mitered together at their ends and beveled to form relatively thick inner edges, and a central panel consisting of a relatively thick core having the grain thereof extending in one direction and outer layers of thin veneer having the grain thereof tfXltTKllflQj crosswise ol' the grain of said core, and having tongue and groove conn ction at its edges with the inner edges of said panel frame nieml'icrs. said layers of veneer extending beyoinl and co ering the joints between said core and panel frame members.

5. A. wood doorcomprising an outer frame. a panel frame consisting of frame members mitered together at their ends and beveled on both faces to provide relatively thin outer edges having tongue and groove connection with the inner edges ol. said outer frame and relatively thick inner edges. and a ccn tral panel consisting of a. relatively thick core joined at its edges flush with the inner edges of said panel frame and thin layers of veneer extending over said core and overlying the inner marginal portions of said panel frame. the grain of said core and veneer extending at right angles.

llU

6. A Wood door comprising an outer frame, a panel frame of solid frame members mitered together at their ends and beveled on both faces to provide relatively thin outer 5 edges fitting in grooves formed in the inner edges of said outer frame and relatively thick inner edges, and a central panel consisting of a core of the same thickness as the inner edge portions of said panel frame and having edgewise tongue and groove con- 10 EMIL o. LOETSCHER. I

ubuque this 15, day of Nov, 15 

